Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update

The City is updating the Parks and Recreation Master Plan! If you want to be involved in this process, please participate in the online version of the March 9th Community Open House.

Community Open House

About 230 community members dropped by throughout the course of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update Community Open House on March 9, 2019 at Tongva Park. The event hosted interactive stations that will help shape the Master Plan Update, live music by the Mad Alsacians, tasty treats, and giant lawn games. Stations included: (1) key findings from the Needs Assessment Report, (2) airport to park conversion case studies, (3) prioritizing development of different types of new parks and amenities at existing parks, (4) locating where new arts and programming should be added in the City. There were also opportunities to draw YOUR park and add general comments to the Think Tank.

If you were unable to attend the Community Open House, you can still provide input by participating in the ONLINE VERSION of the interactive exercises. The online version of the Open House will be available until March 25, 2019.

Fall 2019: Draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan update complete and open for public review and comment (TENTATIVE)

Winter 2019: City Council approval of Final Parks and Recreation Master Plan update (TENTATIVE)

PROJECT SUMMARY

The City is updating the Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PRMP), originally adopted in 1997 by City Council, with the help of MIG, Inc. The Plan set forth strategies, goals, and a vision for Santa Monica’s park and recreation system over the next 20 years. Many of the 1997 PRMP’s strategies were accomplished, but the remaining initiatives in combination with the growing need for open space necessitate a broad analysis of parks and recreation facilities, programming usage, and innovative funding strategies.

The overall goal of the Plan update is to establish a framework for long-range guidance and planning of parks, open space, beach, and community recreation for the next 20 years. The Plan will aim to attract broad public outreach from Santa Monica’s diverse community to develop the vision, goals, and objectives. Opportunities for community engagement include pop-ups across the city, community workshops, and an online map-based survey. The updated PRMP will be a forward thinking document that builds upon the legacy of Santa Monica’s stewardship of its parks, beach, and recreational facilities. It will identify opportunities for preserving this legacy while directing the future creation of new opportunities to meet the needs of the community. It will provide the City and community with a road map for enhancing the City’s park system through best management practices, funding options, programmatic trends that support creative use of parks and responsive urban design.

Informational Presentations Recreation and Parks Commission on February 15, 2018 at the City Council Chambers, 7:30 pm Community Gardens Advisory Committee on May 1, 2018 at the Ken Edwards Center, 6:30 pm Wilshire Montana Neighborhood Coalition on May 1, 2018 at the Montana Branch Library, 7:00 pm Field Sports Advisory Committee on May 2, 2018 at the Thelma Terry Building (Virginia Avenue Park), 7:00 pm North of Montana Association on May 3, 2018 at the Montana Branch Library, 7:00 pm Northeast Neighbors on May 7, 2018 at the Montana Branch Library, 7:00 pm Virginia Avenue Park Advisory board on May 7, 2018 at the Thelma Terry Building (Virginia Avenue Park), 7:00 pm Business Improvement District Leaders and Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce on May 8, 2018 at the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, 2:00 pm Commission on the Status of Women on May 9, 2018 at the Ken Edwards Center, 7:00 pm Ocean Park Association on May 14, 2018 at the Ocean Park Branch Library, 7:00 pm Planning Commission on May 16, 2018 at the City Council Chambers, 7:00 pm Friends of Sunset Park on May 17, 2018 at the Mt. Olive Church, 7:00 pm Public Art Committee on May 21, 2018 at the Ken Edwards Center, 5:00 pm Arts Commission on May 21, 2018 at the Ken Edwards Center, 6:30 pm Social Services Commission on May 21, 2018 at the Santa Monica Institute Training Room (2nd level of the Civic Parking Structure), 7:00 pm Disability Commission on June 4, 2018 at the Ken Edwards Center, 6:30 pm Landmarks Commission on June 11, 2018 at the City Council Chambers, 7:00 pm Pico Neighborhood Association on June 14, 2018 at the Thelma Terry Building (Virginia Avenue Park), 7:00 pm Parent Connection Group on June 14, 2018 at the Thelma Terry Building (Virginia Avenue Park), 6:15 pm Santa Monica Pier Corporation on June 18, 2018 at the Ken Edwards Center, 6:30 pm Mid City Neighbors on June 19, 2018 at the Colorado Center, 6:30 pm Commission for the Senior Community on June 20, 2018 at the Ken Edwards Center, 1:30 pm Familias Latinas Unidas on June 22, 2018 at the Thelma Terry Building (Virginia Avenue Park), 6:00 pm Recreation and Parks Commission on January 10, 2019 at the Pico Branch Library Annex, 6:00 pm

City staff presented to the 23 boards/commissions and community groups listed above between February and June 2018. If you couldn't make it to any of the informational presentations, the presentation is available below.

Community Workshop - August 2018

About 130 community members attended the community workshop for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update on August 25, 2018 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, East Wing. A summary of the community feedback collected thus far was presented followed by small breakout groups. Small group discussions focused on the emerging vision and key themes and an exercise in identifying their priorities for the future of parks and recreation in Santa Monica.

CityTV Recording of Presentation and Summary of Small Group Discussions